Have you ever been reminded to wear a hat to protect your face from the sun? While that's great advice, remember your eyes need protection, too. Exposure to the sun's UV rays can raise the risk of cataracts, macular degeneration, and certain types of eye cancer. Wearing high-quality sunglasses with UV-blocking lenses can help reduce this risk.
Fortunately, most sunglasses are made in a way that will help shield your eyes and minimize the risks of developing vision problems. The two popular choices are polarised sunglasses and UV sunglasses. Both types have something unique to offer. Let's explore how they work and which might go well with you.
What Is UV Protection in Sunglasses?
Ultraviolet rays, commonly known as UV rays, are emitted by the sun. UVA, UVB, and UVC are the three types of UV Rays. UVC rays never make it to Earth because the atmosphere absorbs them. UVA and UVB rays can harm your eyes with prolonged exposure, leading to risks like cataracts or age-related macular degeneration. People with lighter-colored eyes are especially vulnerable to UV Rays. These rays have short wavelengths and carry high energy, which can damage sensitive eye tissues over time.
UV sunglasses help in eye protection with special UV coating. This coating is colorless and translucent and shields nearly 100 percent of the UVA and UVB radiation. The UV coating does not change the way you can look through the lenses. But it acts as a barrier to the incoming harmful rays during the day as well as at night. This protective feature is useful for long-time eye health irrespective of the type of eyewear used daily.
What are Polarized Sunglasses?
Polarised lenses are a special type of sunglasses lens that reduces glare. Glare happens when bright light reflects off surfaces like water, snow, or roads. This makes it hard to see clearly and can cause eye discomfort. Polarised lenses are ideal for outdoor activities like fishing, boating, skiing, or driving.
Polarised sunglasses have a layer that blocks out some types of waves of light. Glare is made of scattered light waves and the filter halts most of them. This improves your sight without making everything look rather gloomy. It also helps in reducing eye strain most especially when driving in bright conditions.
To check if your lenses are polarised or not, place them in front of your car windshield. If you see a checkerboard pattern at the top of the windshield, then you are using polarised lenses. Some drivers have expressed their concern that these patterns hinder their sight while most people appreciate the enhanced sight.
Polarised vs. UV Sunglasses: Which Do You Need?
Polarised Sunglasses for Glare Reduction
Polarised sunglasses are perfect for those who are often faced with glare. They prevent light that bounces off smooth surfaces such as water, roads or snow. This feature makes them ideal for outdoor lovers, drivers, anglers, boaters and skiers.
Polarised lenses enhance the quality of vision and help to eliminate eye fatigue. A fisherman can easily see what is just below the water's surface. A skier will be able to ski on snowy slopes without much danger.
Raytice polarised lenses provide this luxury of advanced polarisation technology with stylish designs to suit adventures. With Raytice, you get the perfect blend of functionality and comfort for your outdoor adventures. However, such shades are not appropriate for pilots or anyone who uses digital screens because Polarisation distorts vision.
UV Protection for All-Day Eye Safety
UV-blocking sunglasses are for everyone. Such lenses are your defence for eyes from harmful UV rays that can cause long-term damage. People who work under the sun, like construction workers, runners, or beachgoers, especially need this protection the most. Even on cloudy days, UV rays are present. Parents can also protect children with UV-blocking sunglasses during outdoor play. When choosing UV sunglasses, ensure they have 100% UV protection to keep your eyes safe, regardless of Polarisation. UV protection is non-negotiable for eye health.
Pros and Cons Of Polarised Lenses and UV-blocking Lenses
Pros and Cons Of Polarised Lenses
Pros
- Reduces the glare so that you can have clear vision in bright, sunny weather.
- Provides contrast, clarity, and visibility features, particularly on sunny days.
- Increases the visibility of objects below the water, thus being good for fishing or boating.
- Reduces eye strain and is, therefore, much more comfortable to use throughout the day.
- Provides high resolution in low light and shaded conditions.
Cons
- Some people complain of dizziness or imbalance when using polarised lenses.
- LCDs can be a problem for the eyes with polarised lenses. This occurs because the lenses in the eyepieces prevent certain directions of light, which digital screens rely on for clarity.
- Polarised glasses for night vision, such as driving a car at night, can restrict the amount of light that reaches your eyes.
Pros and Cons Of UV-blocking Lenses
Pros
- UV Sunglasses prevent dangerous rays from reaching the eyes and causing cataracts or other eye diseases.
- It helps protect the sensitive skin around the eyes from harmful UV exposure.
- Reduces glare and squinting, improving comfort during outdoor activities.
- Filters out UV rays that can distort vision, enhancing clarity in bright conditions.
- Prevents long-term effects such as macular degeneration and skin ageing.
Cons
- UV sunglasses only shield your eyes from UV rays directly in front of you. Additional protection, such as wearing a hat, is necessary to cover other areas.
- High-quality UV sunglasses can limit fashionable designs or colours in sunglasses.
Price Comparison
UV and polarized sunglasses are differently priced depending on the material, brand, and the lens technology used. The most basic UV sunglasses are priced from 15$ up to $30, providing only the protection from the dangerous rays. Polarized sunglasses cost more, ranging from $30 to $150 because of the enhanced anti-glare features. Premium brands offer polarized lenses with added UV protection for $200 and even more.
But, there are budget-friendly sunglasses options with both UV and polarized features with prices lower than $30. Despite their lower price, many budget-friendly sunglasses meet UV400 and polarized standards. These options are ideal for those seeking reliable eye protection without breaking the bank.
How to Pick the Best Sunglasses for You?
Keep UV Protection Top of Mind
Exposure to UV rays without protection leads to severe eye conditions like eye cancer. To stay safe, invest in sunglasses that block 99-100% of UV rays. Check for labels "100% UV absorption". Larger eye shades offer better coverage for your eyes. For the best choice, check out our collection of sunglasseswith big or wrap-around lenses that shield your eyes from all angles.
Shades That Suit Your Activities
Sunglasses can be made from different lenses made of different materials that have different features. For people with active lifestyles, using materials such as plastic and polycarbonate is most appropriate. In particular, athletes should choose polycarbonate eye shades because they are more resistant than the standard plastic ones. For better vision, you should select glasses with coloured lens, for example, green or amber. These eye shades enhance contrast and are, hence, suitable for outdoor activities.
Utility First
It's tempting to pick sunglasses based on their trendy look, but style alone doesn't guarantee sun protection. Always check the label or ask the store staff for details about the sunglasses you're interested in. Dark or metallic eyes shades may cut down on bright light, but they don't always offer protection from harmful UV rays.
What Makes UV and Polarised Lenses So Beneficial?
Superior Clarity and Low Glare
Both polarised and UV sunglasses offer superior clarity in bright conditions. The polarized coating seizes the horizontal waves of light and thus, provides the user with the needed sharpness and detailed representations. For car drivers, fishermen and skiers, these glasses enhance vision and contrast, giving outdoor activities a new dimension of safety and comfort.
Eye Comfort and Protection
Polarized lenses cut down on bright reflections, so there is little need to narrow your eyes or strain to see, even in direct sunlight. UV protection protects your eyes from dangerous rays especially during the bright part of the day (10am-4pm). Both lenses guarantee long term comfort and safeguard your eyes against diseases such as macular degeneration, cataracts, and photokeratitis.
Complete Eye Safety
Polarized lenses reduce glare, but they don't shield against UV unless combined with a UV coating. Sunglasses with both features offer the best protection against UVA and UVB rays and at the same time offer clear vision. These are the best for outdoor activities that take a long time, because they take care of your eyes.
Find Your Perfect Sunglasses – Polarised & UV at Raytice
When shopping for polarized sunglasses, prioritize reputable lens manufacturers. Trusted brands rely on premium materials and advanced technology for their eyewear. One such brand is Zeiss, founded in 1846 and renowned for its precise, durable optical products. Their eye shades are highly valued in industries like sports, photography and medical equipment.
At Raytice, we use high-quality Zeiss lenses in our sports eyewear collection, which includes ski goggles, motorbike goggles, shooting glasses, and UV sports glasses. With these lenses, our products deliver top-tier protection and clarity. Whether you're skiing, riding a motorbike, or playing sports, our glasses offer both style and reliable eye protection. Trust Raytice for durable and effective eyewear.
FAQs
Can sunglasses provide both Polarisation and UV protection?
Although most high-end sunglasses have UV protection and polarization, these are two different features. You can find sunglasses that block UV rays without polarization or polarized sunglasses without UV blocking. In terms of eye protection and comfort, it is advisable to opt for sunglasses that offer both.
Are polarized sunglasses more expensive than regular sunglasses?
Polarized sunglasses are more expensive than normal sunglasses. The addition of the technology to minimize glare and improve clarity adds to the cost of their production.
How do you test sunglasses for UV protection and Polarisation?
To check for polarization, visit an optical store and place your sunglasses at a 90-degree angle to another pair. If the shades become darker or nearly black at the alignment, then you are using polarized sunglasses.
There are two ways through which you can test the UV sunglasses. First, see an optician who can measure the eye shades with a UV meter. Second, at home, use a UV flashlight to see if the lenses are blocking the UV rays.
